Terminal construction



Aug. 27,v 1940.

N. c. scHx-:LLENGER 2,212,815 TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1959 Z7 Maz/22726.' WEI/2521 19%@ sf ATTORNEY 6.

Patented Aug. 27, 1946 UNITED STATES TERINIINAL CONSTRUCTIN Newton C. Schellenger,

Elkhart, incl., assigner to Chicago Telephone Supply Company, Elkhart, Imi., a corporation of Indiana Application January 9,

- 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved terminal construction and more particularly to a combined construction of terminals and insulal tion for use in electrical control units.

In units of this character it is often desirable to have the wire connecting portions of terminals extend substantially parallel to and adjacent the face of the unit. Such units are often used in assemblies where space is limited and where it is important to protect leads carrying heavy currents with insulation in so far as is practical.

It is an object oi' the present invention to provide a new and improved insulated terminal construction.

It is a further object to provide a construction of this character in which terminals are insulated from each other and from adjacent portions of the device to which they are secured.

It is also an object to provide a construction in which the insulation is positively held in place without the use of additional securing members.

It is an additional object to provide a construction which is compact and eiiicient and adapted for commercial production.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of an electrical control unit with the invention applied thereto;

Fllitgure 2 is a view oi Figure l as seen from the rig Figure 3 is a view of Figure l as seen from the left;

Figure l is a section taken on line fflll of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a face view ci the insulation member as seen from below.

The control unit shown is a combination switch and variable resistance, the details of construction of which form no part of the present invention. It may be of the character shown in my prior application, Serial No. 218,062, filed July 9, 1938, which matured into Patent No. 2,177,290,

issued October 24,v 1939. The variable resistance is provided with a base li, operating shaft I2 and metallic housing I3 secured to the base. The base Il is provided with an extended portion I4 carrying the terminals l5 for the variable resistance. The switch is mounted upon the variable resistance housing I3, the switch housing having a metallic wall I6 secured to the resistance housing I3. The metallic wall I6, as best shown in Figure 4, has a rim I'I extending over the edge of the outer face of the insulation member I8 which carries the switch structure upon its inner face. The switch is provided with the terminals I9 and 20 extending from the in- 6o sulating plate I8 and secured in place by the all i939, Serial No. 249,902l

(Cl. T33-32d) rivets 2l and 22. These terminals i9 and 2li have flat, intermediateportions 23 and 213 extending substantially parallel to the face of the switch housing formed by the insulation member it and extending above the metallic rim Il of that face. It is to be noted that the wire securing portionst and 26 of terminals I9 and 2li v extend beyond the switch housing. These terminals extend in the opposite direction from the terminals l5 of the variable resistance unit. This is for the reason that the switch normally controls either alternating current or in the case of automobile radios controls current interrupted by a vibration, and it is desirable to keep these switch leads away from the variable resistance leads in order to prevent pickup from the switch by the variable resistance connections.

The folded insulation member 2l is provided with the lower portion 23 located between the terminal portions 25 and 2li and the insulation face It and the metallic rim il. This portion 2l is notched at 38 to lt against the offset portion 29 of the terminalZiB and positively locate the insulation relative to the terminals. The insulation member 2l is provided with the perforations 3i? and 3l which permit the wire securing portions 25 and 2li of the terminals to extend beyond the insulation for the connection of suitable wires. The upper portion 32 of the insulation member 2l is folded over against the outer face of the terminals I9 and 2li and completely covers these terminals. It is provided with a perforation 33 through which passes an extension 3d formed on the metallic rim Il of the housing iti. This extension 3Q after passing through the opening or perforation 33 is bent down against the outer face of the outer insulation portion 32 to retain it in place.

It will be apparent that by the coaction of the notch 38u/ith terminal 2G and the passage of the the major portion of the terminals from outside contact and fully protects the terminals against being forced into electrical contact with the metallic rim of the switch housing. No extra parts are 'required to fasten the .insulation in place and it may be rapidly assembled and secured in place.

While I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that they are capable of modification and change to meet varying conditions and requirements, and I contemplate such variations as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an electrical control unit and housing therefor, said housing having a metal portion, a terminal carried by one wall of thehousing and having a portion extending over the metal portion of the housing .but spaced thereminal projecting through the hole in the terminal from, a folded terminal guard of sheet insulaguard, and an extension from the metal portion of the housing overlying one of said superimposedportions of the terminal guard to hold the terminal guard in place.

2. In combination with an electrical control unit and housing, said housing comprising metal portions, a terminal extending from and adjacent to a face of the housing, a folded insulation member having a portion extending between the terminal and metal portions of the housing, a second portion covering the major part of the outer face of the terminal, the insulation member having a perforation therein, and an extension from a metal portion of the housing passing through the perforation and bent against the outer face of the insulation to hold it in place. Y

3. In combination with an electrical control unit and housing therefor, said housing having a face of insulation and a metallic rim, a terminal extending from said face and overlying the same Awith its outer end portion extending across the metallic rim, and a folded insulation member having superimposed inner and outer. portions connected by the fold and having a hole adjacent to the fold, the inner portion being disposed between the terminal and the metallic rim and havinga notch engaging the terminal adjacent to the face from which it extends to properly locate the insulating member relativeto the terminal, and the outer portion covering the major partof the outer surface of the terminal with the outer end portion of the terminal projecting through the hole in the fold.

- 4. In combination with an electrical control unit and housing, said housing having a face of insulating material with a metallic rim, a terminal projecting from said face and extending substantially parallel thereto and adjacent to and beyond the metallic rim, a folded insulation member having a portion disposed between the terminal and metallic rim and having a notch engaging the terminal adjacent to said face of insulating material and having a second portion covering the major'part ofthe terminal, said second portion of the insulation member having an opening thereim-and an extensionfrommhe metallie'rim passing through the opening and overlying the portion of the insulation member adjacent to the opening to secure the insulation member in place.

5. In combination, an electrical control unit having a housing; said housing having a metal side wall and' a substantially'iiat end wall of insulation, a'terminal having an attaching portion secured to said end wall and an outward extension oiset from its attaching portion and overlying said end wall in substantialv parallelism therewith and extending across and beyondthe rimrof the metal side wall, an insulation guard having a substantially flat portion covering the.

entire end wall and'overlying all but the outer end portion of the terminal and having a portion disposed between the terminal and the rim of the metal side wall to prevent grounding the terminal to the metal side wall, and an extension from said metal side wall bent over the insulation guard to secure the same in place.

6. In combination, an electrical control Aunit 'having a housing, said housing having a metal side wall, a terminal extended from an end wall of the housing and overlying the Asame with its outer end portion extending across and projecting beyond the rim of the metal side Wall, an insulation guard disposed over said end wall and covering all but the outer end portion of the terminal,

. having a terminal mounted on insulation and extending across a metal portion of the housing, said guard comprising a piece of sheet insulation folded medially of its ends to provide superimposed inner and outer portions and having a hole at its fold through which the terminal is projectible.'

the inner portion of the guard being shorter than the outer portion and having a notch in its end to receive the terminal adjacent to its mounting when the guard is properly applied with its inner portion lying between the terminal and the adjacent metal part of the housing and its outer portion covering' all but the outer end portion of the terminal. A

8. The combination with an electricalcontrol unit of the type having a housing including, a substantially iiat end wall of insulating material and a metal side wall connected with the end wall in such a manner that portions of the' metal side wall are exposed at the outer face of lthe end wall, and having a terminal mounted on the end wall and extending across the Vend wall and beyond its-juncture with the metal side wall, of an insulating guard for electrically insulating Vthe terminal from the metal side wall and for protecting the major portion thereof from contact with adjacent objects, said guard comprising a stripof sheetv insulation folded mediallyof its ends' to provide` superimposed substantially at portions and having a hole at its fold through which the terminal projects, and means for holding the insulating guard assembled with the control unit housing with both portions thereof substantially parallel with the end wall of the `housing and with the inner portion thereof interposed between the terminal `and the adjacent parts of the metal side wall and the outer portion thereof covering the major portion of the terminal and the end wall.

. NEWTON C. SCHELLENGER. 

